To simulate Creativity,
one must develop the
childlike inclination for play
and the childlike desire for recognition
Albert Einstein
Don’t know how to stimulate your creativity? Then, it’s time to play. Whether that’s inside or outside, it’s up to you because it doesn’t matter. The key is that you play.
Playing involves dropping the work that you feel you must do, whether it’s business, housework or yard work and having fun instead. Drop it and go read a book or watch football. See a sunset or have a tea party with your kids. Enjoy the sunrise or do some coloring. It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you’re having fun doing it.
Play allows your mind to let go of what you’ve been working on and brings you into moments of joy, fun, and laughter. Think of a child playing outside. They can go out and study an anthill for hours. Studying how the ants bring the food into their home, even dropping bits of food to see how they would pick up the new objects Once done, the child can then regale you with stories of ant families living off the food through the cold winters. That is imagination at work! A child will look at a crack in the wall and wonder if it can be stitched together, or draw an animal out of it or think it’s time energy about to explode and rewrite the history of the universe (any Whovians out there?)
When I was a child I used to have to rake leaves as a chore. I hated raking leaves, it was so boring. So I would rake the leaves into lines and pretend the lines were walls to a house. I would rake more leaves in and create all the different rooms, even a porch, and a garage. Then I would play in all the different rooms. I took a boring chore and made it fun for me. My husband still plays like that as an adult. He turns boring chores at work into a game, like timing himself to see if he can peel potatoes faster with each batch. Do you remember how you used to play as a child? Are you forgetting to play now?
I have a boss who started a new ritual with us. At the beginning of our weekly staff meetings, he asks us to share not only something that we’re proud of from work but also something fun that we did over the weekend. It’s a reminder that we need to look at the positive things that happen at work (not just the negatives,) and we also need a work/life balance in order that we can come back to work fresh and ready to go. It not only recharges our batteries so we can work another week, but it also stimulates our creativity so we can look at work differently and find and create new solutions.
Once you clear the cobwebs from your brain, you’re able to come back to whatever you were working on with a fresh perspective. How do you clear the cobwebs?
You can also read more about how play connects you to creativity in How to Tap Into Your Creativity Part I and in Creativity is Intelligence Having Fun.
My boss always asks me to share something from my weekend. So, that’s her method! Smiling.
I do something similar to your husband – any time I have to do a chore I dislike (i.e. dishes) I pretend I’m on a game show, trying to get it done as fast as I can. Beat the clock! haha
I’ve found that one of the best ways to let go and clear the cobwebs is by taking a shower. I get out of my head and just focus on the sensations of the flowing water and heat. I am continually surprised at the number of ideas or thoughts that pop into my head during showers, and often save them for the afternoon (I work at home) when I need a “brain break.”
I love to play! But I don’t have that much trouble stimulating my creativity. Only working. LOL
Well…working would be the second half of this equation.
I love this, play is so important! I’m going to create a game to help my husband when he gets stuck on what to write 🙂
That’s should be fun…I hope he thinks so, too!
I am actually at that point at the moment. I am so over my blog and I need to let it go and ‘play’ for a while. Thanks for the reminder that we need to step away and enjoy some fun in our lives.
Go out and have some fun. It makes all the difference.
I’m off to spend the day with my grandson now that is FUN!
Play is so important in many ways. Plus, it’s usually so much more fun than work! 😉 I usually play “in my head” while walking. I have all kinds of imaginary conversations in different situations and it’s amazing how many times I get answers or new ideas playing “Let’s Pretend!”
This is so true, Jennifer. I clear the cobwebs by taking a walk. Some of my most creative ideas come to me when I am on a ‘boring’ walk. But then the ideas come and there is no boring. ‘ve got to start taking a notebook with me because as I repeat my ideas so I won’t forget them I fear I emanate the wrong impression to passers by who see me talking to myself and waving my arms. Like a lunatic. Oh wait……
Talking, walking and waving your arms like a lunatic….now that’s a story.
It’s amazing that play takes practice…but it does. I like to set up races for myself. Can I unload the dishwasher before the water for my tea is done…it doesn’t sound fun when I write it here but it is fun in real life 😉
I like this idea! I need to play more!
You are so right about this. Play is crucial all through life isn’t it? I have a bit less time to play as my parents are getting less able and I start getting stir crazy if I can’t create with paint, pen or camera every day. Very soon, I will have to live with them part time and I am making sure I have a supply of creative resources with me so I can carry on playing whenever I can grab time to myself. How did I play when I was a kid? Well I used to annihilate my mum’s beautiful fragrant roses as soon as they bloomed by pulling the petals off and sitting on the porch step making ‘perfume’ concoctions by mashing them into water with a stick. Oh yes, and playing tennis on my own by using the house as a partner. I was always getting into trouble for bouncing the ball off of the Windows when I missed the bricks.
I never annihilated the flowers (they were my father’s gardens,) but I did get in trouble for bouncing a ball against the house.
I am personally working on a way to clear my cobwebs………I know I need some time away for a little while………….When I go to the Mountains I seem to be able to think better & when I look at ALL THE BEAUTY that Our God has given us……..I so seem to come alive again………..I hope to go next week……….
Yes. There can be no output without some type of input. Fresh mountain air is a wonderful way to stimulate the creativity! Enjoy.